Paint stirrer attachment for cans



5 S c E 4 m 0 L, W "u WM A 2 .4 M W W Filed Feb. 2, 1950 W JOHNSON PAINTSTIRRER ATTACHMENT FOR CANS June 24, 1952 Patented June 24, 1952 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,601,438 PAINT STIRRER ATTACHMENT FOR CANS WalfredJohnson, Racine, Wis.

Application February 2, 1950, Serial No. 141,868

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-85) My invention refers to self-contained stirringpaddles for canned liquids.

The object of my invention is to provide a metallic paddle flatlyattached to a can, comprising a strip reinforced by a central ribforming a handle extension for the major portion of the length of thestrip. The upper end of the handle terminates with a hook, and the lowerend portion ,with an S-shaped offset shoulder, having extendingtherefrom a flat yieldable stirring blade, whereby paint or other fluidproducts may be thoroughly mixed for use.

The stirring paddle handle, when not in use, is firmly secured to theoutside wall of the can by seating the hooked end over the top bead ofsaid can, and thereafter snapping the S-shaped shoulder over the bottomcan bead and finally folding the blade flatly against the bottom canhead, whereby the paddle is snugly anchored to the can in such mannerthat groups of cans may be nested in shipment without forminginterfering projections.

In practice, it is contemplated to initially how the blade, whereby itis pressed by a plug tool or by hand flatly against the can head bottom.

It is also understood that these stirring paddles may be separatelysupplied to dealers for retail purchase in which case they are suppliedto cans in stock, such as paint or other fluid products that may requirethorough mixing before use.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, itbeing understood that such changes in the precise embodi ment of theherein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of thephysical embodiment of the present invention constructed according tothe best mode so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a partly sectional elevation of a can having astirring paddle attached thereto, embodying the features of myinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the stirring paddle distended in itsposition of use.

Figure 3 is a face view of the same.

Figure 4 is a cross section of the paddle, the section being indicatedby line I, 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 51s another cross section ofthe paddle,

2 the section being indicatedby line 5, 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of a can illustrating in full anddotted lines the stirring paddle in various positions for mixing thefluid contents of a can.

Figure 7 is a similar view illustrating another mixing position of thestirring paddle; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed sectional elevation of the bottomcorner of a can illustrating a fragment of the blade and of the paddleslightly bowed before the same is pressed against the bottom head of thecan.

Referring by characters to the drawings, A indicates a can body having atop bead B and a slip cover 0, the bottom of the can being provided witha bead D and a bottom head E, all of which are of standard type. Mountedflatly against the can body is a metallic strip comprising a handleportion 1 formed with a central reinforcing rib l'.

The upper end of the handle is folded inwardly to form a hook 2, whichhook engages the top bead of the can, and at the lower end of the handleportion the strip is formed with an inwardly extended S-shaped shoulder3, which shoulder engages the lower can head D. The paddle is completedby a flat stirring blade 4 which extends from S-shaped shoulder, andwhen the stirring paddle is attached to the can, as shown in Figure 1 ofthe drawing, the blade 4 is folded flatly against the bottom face: ofthe can head E. Thus, it will be noted that the stirring paddle isfirmly attached to the can and may readily be transported therewith, asshown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

When it is desired to utilize the stirring paddle for mixing paint orother fluid contained in the can, it is removed therefrom, and as shownin Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7 the blade portion is then straightened out inalignment with the handle, whereby it will serve as a flexible fluidmixing unit.

Thus, when it is inserted in a can for mixing, the blade portion willperform a general stirring operation in conjunction with the lowerportion of the handle, whereby the bottom and sides of the can may bethoroughly scraped and the contents agitated, and also the offsetshoulder portion of the paddle will permit lifting of the fluid contentsof the can while, at the same time, the said shoulder may beconveniently inserted under the corner of the upper can bead, wherebythe paddle will thus thoroughly scrape and agitate the paint or otherfluid before it is put to use. and crude mixing sticks or the like maybe eliminated.

As shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, when a paddle is to be attached tothe body of a can for convenience, the blade portion 4 is previouslybowed, hence, it may readily be fiattened,,down upon the bottom face ofthe can by any suitable instrument or by hand, whereby it will, due toits flexure, firmly seat in its proper flat position.

While these novel paddles may be shipped attached to cans, it isapparent that I may, in some instances, distribute vthem to dealers foruse, whereby they maybe purchased and attached to cans in stock.

I claim:

1. In a paint can or the likesofithe type having a marginal bead at eachend, an attachment therefore serving as a means for .mixing andagitating the contents, said attachment com: prising a metallic stripadapted to closely conform to the contour of the can body and;to de- 4tating the contents comprising a bendable metallic strip so constructedand arranged as to closely conform to the contour of the can body and todetachably engage over said marginal beads, said metallic stripincluding a handle having its major portion provided with astrengthening rib and terminating at its upper end in a hook adapted toengage the top bead of the can, a U- shaped portion integral with thelower end of said handle and ,adaptedmopngageoyer the bottom bead, and apaddle blade secured to said U- shaped portion extending transversely ofthe the can the contents thereof may be thoroughly The followingreferences are of record in the -file of this patent:

